Automotive air conditioning refrigerant charging apparatus

ABSTRACT

An automotive air conditioning refrigerant charging apparatus. In a described embodiment, an automotive air conditioning refrigerant charging apparatus includes an R-134a system quick connect connector, a pressure gauge and a refrigerant can valve. The pressure gauge and the valve are simultaneously and permanently connected to the quick connect connector.

BACKGROUND

[0001] The present invention relates generally to automotive airconditioning systems and, in an embodiment described herein, moreparticularly provides an automotive air conditioning refrigerantcharging apparatus.

[0002] Current automotive air conditioning systems generally utilize anR-134a refrigerant. These air conditioning systems will require chargingwith refrigerant, or recharging with refrigerant if the system has beenserviced or a leak has occurred. It would be advantageous for a personto be able to conveniently charge an automotive air conditioning systemwith refrigerant in these circumstances and others.

[0003] Unfortunately, present refrigerant charging apparatus are notconvenient to use. One such apparatus requires the user to interchange apressure gauge with a valve multiple times in a dangerous andcomplicated checking/charging/verifying procedure during its use. Theapparatus is cumbersome, complicated and dangerous for a novice orunskilled mechanic to use.

[0004] Therefore, it may be seen that it would be desirable to providean improved automotive air conditioning refrigerant charging apparatus.

SUMMARY

[0005] In carrying out the principles of the present invention, inaccordance with an embodiment thereof, an automotive air conditioningrefrigerant charging apparatus is provided which does not requireinterchanging elements thereof during its use, and which is moreconvenient and less dangerous to use.

[0006] In one aspect of the invention, an automotive air conditioningrefrigerant charging apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes aquick connect connector operative to connect to a low pressure serviceport of an R-134a air conditioning system, a pressure gauge, and arefrigerant can valve. The pressure gauge and valve are connectedsimultaneously to the quick connect connector.

[0007] In another aspect of the invention, an automotive airconditioning refrigerant charging apparatus is provided in which atleast one of the pressure gauge and valve is permanently connected tothe quick connect connector. Preferably, both the pressure gauge and thevalve are permanently connected to the quick connect connector.

[0008] In yet another aspect of the invention, an automotive airconditioning refrigerant charging apparatus is provided which includes aquick connect connector operative to connect to a low pressure serviceport of an R-134a air conditioning system, a pressure gauge, arefrigerant can valve, and a T-fitting connected to each of the quickconnect connector, the pressure gauge and the valve. Preferably, thepressure gauge is connected directly to the T-fitting, and hoses areused to connect between the T-fitting and each of the quick connectconnector and the valve.

[0009] These and other features, advantages, benefits and objects of thepresent invention will become apparent to one of ordinary skill in theart upon careful consideration of the detailed description of arepresentative embodiment of the invention hereinbelow and theaccompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010]FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a prior art refrigerant chargingapparatus being used to charge an automotive air conditioning system;and

[0011]FIG. 2 is a schematic elevational view of an automotive airconditioning system charging apparatus embodying principles of thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0012] Schematically illustrated in FIG. 1 is a prior art refrigerantcharging apparatus 10 connected to an automotive air conditioning system12. The air conditioning system 12 includes a compressor 20, a highpressure line 22 and a low pressure line 24. An accumulator 26 isinterconnected in the low pressure line 24. The accumulator 26 has aservice port 28 thereon for charging the system 12 with refrigerant. Insome other systems, the service port 28 may be located in anotherportion of the low pressure line 24.

[0013] The apparatus 10 includes a hose 14 having connectors 16, 18 atopposite ends. The connector 16 is a conventional “quick connect”connector of the type used to connect to R-134a air conditioning systemservice ports. The quick connect connector 16 is not threaded to theservice port 28, but is instead secured by manipulating an externalsleeve to engage a series of balls with a recess on the service port.The other connector 18 is an internally threaded member.

[0014] The apparatus 10 is designed so that either a pressure gauge 30or a refrigerant can valve 32 may be threaded to the connector 18. Forthis purpose, each of the pressure gauge 30 and the valve 32 has anexternally threaded portion which mates with the internally threadedconnector 18. The valve 32 is additionally provided with internalthreads (not visible in FIG. 1) to mate with an externally threaded topend of a can of refrigerant 34.

[0015] To use the apparatus 10, a person must first connect the gauge 30to the connector 18, and then connect the connector 16 to the lowpressure line 24 service port 28. It would be very dangerous to firstconnect the connector 16 to the service port 28, since this would allowrefrigerant at high pressure to escape from the air conditioning system12 through the open end of the hose 14 at the connector 18. Thus, aparticular order of steps must be followed by the user of the apparatus10 to avoid possible injury or damage.

[0016] After connecting the gauge 30 to the connector 18, and thenconnecting the connector 16 to the service port 28, the air conditioningsystem 12 is operated, for example, by starting the automobile to whichthe air conditioning system is attached and turning on the airconditioning system. The user can now read the operating pressure in thelow pressure line 24 on the gauge 30 in order to determine whetheradditional refrigerant is needed.

[0017] If additional refrigerant is needed, the air conditioning system12 must be turned off and the apparatus 10 disconnected from the serviceport 28. The pressure gauge 30 is unthreaded from the connector 18. Thevalve 32 is then threaded onto the top of the refrigerant can 34. Then,with the can 34 attached to the valve 32, the valve is threaded into theconnector 18. It will be readily appreciated that this portion of theprocedure is very cumbersome, prone to error and inconvenient for theuser.

[0018] With the can 34 connected to the valve 32, and the valveconnected to the connector 18, the connector 16 is then connected to theservice port 28. The air conditioning system 12 is again turned on, andthe valve 32 is opened to permit refrigerant to flow from the can 34into the low pressure line 24. Note that, at this point (whilerefrigerant is being flowed into the system 12), the user is unable todetermine whether sufficient refrigerant has been added to the system,whether still more refrigerant needs to be added, or whether too muchrefrigerant has already been added.

[0019] Once the refrigerant has been transferred from the can 34 intothe system 12, the valve 32 is closed and the air conditioning system isagain turned off. The apparatus 10 is disconnected from the system 12,and the gauge 30 is substituted for the valve 32 in the connector 18.The connector 16 is again connected to the service port 28, and the airconditioning system 12 is again turned on. The user can then verifywhether sufficient refrigerant has been added to the system 12 byreading the pressure gauge 30.

[0020] If more refrigerant needs to be added, then the system 12 willneed to be turned off again, the apparatus 10 disconnected from thesystem, another can of refrigerant 34 threaded onto the valve 32, thevalve substituted for the gauge 30 in the connector 18, the connectorconnected to the service port 28, and the air conditioning system turnedback on again. This process of connecting, disconnecting, threading andunthreading various elements of the apparatus 10 may need to be repeatedmultiple times to achieve a desired level of refrigerant in the system12, and each time the process is performed a particular sequence ofsteps must be followed in order to prevent the inadvertent escape ofpressurized refrigerant. These problems are solved, or at leastsubstantially reduced, by the present invention.

[0021] Turning now to FIG. 2, an automotive air conditioning refrigerantcharging apparatus 40 embodying principles of the invention isrepresentatively and schematically illustrated. The apparatus 40 isspecifically designed for use with air conditioning systems (such as thesystem 12 described above) which utilize R-134a refrigerant. For thispurpose, the apparatus 40 is provided with a quick connect connector 42for connection to the service port 28, and a valve 44 having internalthreads (not visible in FIG. 2) for connection to the refrigerant can34.

[0022] Note that the valve 44 is preferably connected permanently to ahose 46 of the apparatus 40. Due to the construction of the apparatus40, there is no need for the valve 44 to be interchanged on the hose 46with any other element of the apparatus, or for the valve itself to berepeatedly connected and disconnected from the hose.

[0023] An opposite end of the hose 46 is connected, via a T-fitting 48,to a pressure gauge 50. This connection between the hose 46 and thegauge 50 is also preferably a permanent connection, since there is noneed to disconnect and reconnect the gauge, or to substitute it with anyother element of the apparatus 40.

[0024] Another hose 52 is connected between the T-fitting 48 and theconnector 42. Thus, both the pressure gauge 50 and the valve 44 areconnected to the connector 42 at the same time, enabling a user tomonitor pressure in the system 12 while the valve is also connected andavailable to add refrigerant to the system. Preferably, the hose 52 ispermanently connected between the T-fitting 48 and the connector 42.

[0025] In use, the apparatus 40 is connected to the air conditioningsystem 12 when the system is turned off. With the valve 44 closed, a canof refrigerant 34 threaded into the valve. The connector 42 is thenconnected to the service port 28 and the system 12 is turned on. At thispoint, pressure in the low pressure line 24 may be monitored using thegauge 50. The valve 44 may then be opened to permit refrigerant to flowfrom the can into the system 12.

[0026] Pressure in the low pressure line 24 may be convenientlymonitored using the gauge 50 during the process of adding refrigerant.For example, the valve 44 may be closed after only a partial can ofrefrigerant 34 has been added, and the gauge 50 checked to see whether asufficient amount of refrigerant has been added, while the system 12remains turned on.

[0027] There is no need to interchange the gauge 50 with a valve, as inthe prior art system illustrated in FIG. 1, when it is desired to addrefrigerant, or to interchange the valve with the gauge when it isdesired to check the pressure in the low pressure line 24. Furthermore,there is no need to repeat this process multiple times when it isnecessary to add more than one can of refrigerant 34 to the system 12.

[0028] Thus, it will be readily appreciated that the apparatus 40 ismore convenient, easier to operate, less dangerous and less prone toerror than prior refrigerant charging apparatus.

[0029] Of course, a person skilled in the art would, upon a carefulconsideration of the above description of a representative embodiment ofthe invention, readily appreciate that many modifications, additions,substitutions, deletions, and other changes may be made to this specificembodiment, and such changes are contemplated by the principles of thepresent invention. Accordingly, the foregoing detailed description is tobe clearly understood as being given by way of illustration and exampleonly, the spirit and scope of the present invention being limited solelyby the appended claims and their equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. An automotive air conditioning refrigerantcharging apparatus, comprising: a quick connect connector operative toconnect to a low pressure service port of an R-134a air conditioningsystem; a pressure gauge; and a refrigerant can valve, the pressuregauge and valve being connected simultaneously to the quick connectconnector.
 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pressuregauge and valve are connected to the quick connect connector using atleast one hose.
 3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a firsthose is connected between the pressure gauge and the quick connectconnector, and wherein a second hose is connected between the valve andthe pressure gauge.
 4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein thefirst hose is connected between the quick connect connector and aT-fitting connected to the pressure gauge, and wherein the second hoseis connected between the T-fitting and the valve.
 5. The apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the pressure gauge is permanentlyconnected to the quick connect connector.
 6. The apparatus according toclaim 1, wherein the valve is permanently connected to the quick connectconnector.
 7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pressuregauge and the valve are each permanently connected to the quick connectconnector.
 8. An automotive air conditioning refrigerant chargingapparatus, comprising: a quick connect connector operative to connect toa low pressure service port of an R-134a air conditioning system; apressure gauge; and a refrigerant can valve, at least one of thepressure gauge and valve being permanently connected to the quickconnect connector.
 9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein bothof the pressure gauge and valve are permanently connected to the quickconnect connector.
 10. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein thepressure gauge and the valve are connected simultaneously to the quickconnect connector.
 11. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein thepressure gauge and valve are connected to the quick connect connectorusing at least one hose.
 12. The apparatus according to claim 8, whereina first hose is connected between the pressure gauge and the quickconnect connector, and wherein a second hose is connected between thevalve and the pressure gauge.
 13. The apparatus according to claim 12,wherein the first hose is connected between the quick connect connectorand a T-fitting connected to the pressure gauge, and wherein the secondhose is connected between the T-fitting and the valve.
 14. An automotiveair conditioning refrigerant charging apparatus, comprising: a quickconnect connector operative to connect to a low pressure service port ofan R-134a air conditioning system; a pressure gauge; a refrigerant canvalve; and a T-fitting connected to each of the quick connect connector,the pressure gauge and the valve.
 15. The apparatus according to claim14, wherein at least one of the pressure gauge and valve is permanentlyconnected to the T-fitting.
 16. The apparatus according to claim 14,wherein both of the pressure gauge and valve are permanently connectedto the T-fitting.
 17. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein thepressure gauge and the valve are connected simultaneously to theT-fitting.
 18. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the pressuregauge and valve are connected to the quick connect connector using atleast one hose.
 19. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein a firsthose is connected between the pressure gauge and the quick connectconnector, and wherein a second hose is connected between the valve andthe pressure gauge.
 20. The apparatus according to claim 19, wherein thefirst hose is connected between the quick connect connector and theT-fitting, and wherein the second hose is connected between theT-fitting and the valve.